Television and lifetime estimating method of a television

ABSTRACT

The commodity recycling method of the present invention includes the steps of: selling or renting a commodity to a first user (step S 1 ); collecting the commodity from the first user (step S 2 ); estimating a remaining life of the commodity based on information indicating a usage history of the commodity recorded in a recording section provided in the commodity (step S 3 ); determining sale terms or lease terms based on the estimated remaining life of the commodity (step S 4 ); selling or renting the commodity to a second user in accordance with the sale terms or the lease terms (step S 5 ). The recording section records the information indicating the usage history of the commodity in a manner in which it is substantially impossible for a user of the commodity to alter the usage history information.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a commodity recycling method.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, commodities, such as home-use electronic and electricdevices, produced and sold on a massive scale in the world have beendisposed of on a massive scale. In order to decrease the effect on theenvironment of such massive disposal, the following measures (1) and (2)have been often taken.

(1) Select a place for disposing of a commodity according to theproperties of the commodity. For example, a commodity which may beharmful to humans is landfilled in a place distant from a city, and acommodity which may not be harmful to humans is landfilled on theoutskirts of a city.

(2) Change the form of a commodity into a form which may not have anyeffect on the environment, and then the commodity is disposed of. Forexample, flon, which is one of the causes in disruption of the ozonelayer, is removed from the commodity, and then the commodity is disposedof.

However, these measures are merely ad hoc. Therefore, a fundamentalmeasure for decreasing the effect on the environment of disposedcommodities by reducing the amount of commodity disposal has beenexpected.

Reducing an amount of commodity disposal by recycling commodities is onetypical example of such fundamental measures.

In 2001, the “Home Appliances Recycling Law” was enforced in order toreduce the amount of home-use electronic and electric devices(hereinafter, referred to as “home appliances”) disposal by encouragingthe recycling of the home appliances. This law requires manufacturers ofa particular types of home appliances to collect, dismantle, and rebuildthe home appliances of that particular type.

Home appliances, which are currently distributed, require manual laborwhen they are dismantled into a plurality of parts, because most of thehome appliances are not designed to accommodate automatic dismantling.This means that the dismantlement cost of home appliances issignificantly higher than their manufacturing cost. As a result, thedismantlement cost of home appliances is added to their selling price.Thus, there is a possibility that consumers will have to pay more topurchase the home appliances.

The Applicant of the present application estimates that it will take atleast a few to 10 years or more after the enforcement of the “HomeAppliances Recycling Law” to entirely replace the home appliancescurrently distributed with home appliances which are designed so as toaccommodate automatic dismantlement in a dismantling plant.

The objective of the present invention is to provide a recycling methodwhich allows a decrease in an operation cost of the dismantling plant byreducing the amount of commodities (for example, home appliances) to bedismantled.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a recyclingmethod which implements a global recycling system for efficientlyrecycling commodities worldwide.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

A commodity recycling method of the present invention comprises thesteps of: selling or renting a commodity to a first user; collecting thecommodity from the first user; estimating a remaining life of thecommodity based on information indicating a usage history of thecommodity recorded in a recording section provided in the commodity;determining sale terms or lease terms based on the estimated remaininglife of the commodity; selling or renting the commodity to a second userin accordance with the sale terms or the lease terms; collecting thecommodity from the second user; and dismantling the commodity into aplurality of parts after the collection of the commodity from the seconduser, wherein the recording section records the information indicatingthe usage history of the commodity in a manner in which it issubstantially impossible for a user of the commodity to alter the usagehistory information, whereby the above objectives are achieved.

The sale and renting to the first user and the collection of thecommodity from the first user may be performed in a first country, andthe sale and renting of the commodity to the second user and thecollection of the commodity from the second user may be performed in asecond country, which is different from the first country.

The dismantling of the commodity into a plurality of parts may beperformed in the second country.

Techniques for dismantling the commodity may be transferred from thefirst country to the second country.

A guidance on the techniques for dismantling the commodity may beprovided in the second country.

The commodity may include a device for sending particular informationwhich is particular to the commodity.

The particular information may include distribution information forspecifying a party involved in a distribution of the commodity, and whenthe particular information from the commodity ceases, may notify a partyinvolved in the distribution of the commodity, which is specified by thedistribution information included in the most recent piece of particularinformation from the commodity, that the particular information from thecommodity has ceased.

The step of estimating the remaining life of the commodity may comprisea step of obtaining the information indicating the usage history recodedin the recording section via a network.

Another commodity recycling method of the present invention comprisesthe steps of: selling or renting a commodity to a first user; collectingthe commodity from the first user; selling or renting the commodity to asecond user; collecting the commodity from the second user; anddismantling the commodity into a plurality of parts after the collectionof the commodity from the second user, wherein the sale and renting tothe first user and the collection of the commodity from the first userare performed in a first country, and the sale and renting of thecommodity to the second user and the collection of the commodity fromthe second user are performed in a second country, which is differentfrom the first country, whereby the above objectives are achieved.

The dismantling of the commodity into a plurality of parts may beperformed in the second country.

Techniques for dismantling the commodity may be transferred from thefirst country to the second country.

A guidance on the techniques for dismantling the commodity may beprovided in the second country.

The commodity may include a device for sending particular informationwhich is particular to the commodity.

The particular information may include distribution information forspecifying a party involved in a distribution of the commodity, and whenthe particular information from the commodity ceases, may notify a partyinvolved in the distribution of the commodity, which is specified by thedistribution information included in the most recent piece of particularinformation from the commodity, that the particular information from thecommodity has ceased.

Another commodity recycling method of the present invention comprisesthe steps of: selling or renting the commodity to a first user in afirst country; collecting the commodity from the first user in the firstcountry; and exporting the commodity for sale or rental in a secondcountry, which is different from the first country, whereby the aboveobjectives are achieved.

Another commodity recycling method of the present invention comprisesthe steps of: importing a commodity sold or rented to a first user andcollected from the first user in a first country into a second country,which is different from the first country; selling and renting thecommodity to a second user in the second country; and collecting thecommodity from the second user in the second country, whereby the aboveobjectives are achieved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a channel of distribution of commodities based on arecycling method according to the present invention.

FIG. 2A shows another channel of distribution of commodities based on arecycling method according to the present invention.

FIG. 2B shows yet another channel of distribution of commodities basedon a recycling method according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a procedure of the recycling methodaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a structure of a recycle support system 60 supporting therecycling of commodities.

FIG. 5 shows a device 1012 having both the function of a usage historyinformation storing section 84 and the function of a current-on timersection 83 shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6A shows a fuse 1000, as an example of the device for irreversiblyrecording information regarding whether a TV 74 is unused or not.

FIG. 6B shows a condition of the fuse 1000 after the TV 74 is used.

FIG. 6C shows an example in which a protective device 1100 is providedin the TV 74.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a management system 70 for managing lifecycles of commodities on a global scale by using communicationssatellites.

FIG. 8A shows an example of communication channels of commodities in thelife cycles of the commodities.

FIG. 8B shows an example of the channel of distribution of a commodityin the case where the commodity is a car.

FIG. 8C shows an example of the channel of distribution of a commodityin the case where the commodity is an airplane.

FIG. 8D shows an example of the channel of distribution of a commoditywhen the commodity is a ship.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

As used herein, the term “sale” means “to transfer proprietary rightsfrom A to B”, and “rent” means “to make a monetary lend-lease contractbetween A and B without transferring proprietary rights from A to B”.Herein, A and B may be either a natural person or a cooperation.Furthermore, the term “rent” encompasses “lease” and “rental”.

The term “commodity” refers to any type of commodity. For example,commodities are cars, home appliances, and the like.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described withreference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a channel of distribution of commodities based on arecycling method according to the present invention.

A commodity manufacturer 10 manufactures commodities. The commoditiesmanufactured by the commodity manufacturer 10 are sold to a leasingcompany 20.

The leasing company 20 leases the commodity to a consumer (first user)41 according to lease terms set by a lease contract.

The leasing company 20 collects the commodity from the consumer (firstuser) 41, for example, after the lease contract has expired.Alternatively, the leasing company 20 may cancel the lease contract atany time and collect the commodity from the consumer (first user) 41. Insuch a case, it is preferable to pay any lease charges back to theconsumer (first user) 41 according to the lease contract.

In addition, it is preferable that the leasing company 20 gives somekind of incentive to the consumer (first user) 41 so as to ensure thatthe commodity is easily collected from the consumer (first user) 41.

The remaining life of the commodity collected from the consumer (firstuser) 41 is estimated. Based on the estimated remaining life of thecommodity, new lease terms are set. A method for estimating theremaining life of the commodity will be described later.

The leasing company 20 leases the commodity to a consumer (second user)42 according to the lease terms determined based on the estimatedremaining life of the commodity. Typically, the consumer (first user) 41and the consumer (second user) 42 are different because when theconsumer(first user) 41 desires to extend the lease contract, theconsumer (first user) 41 usually continues to use the commodity withouthaving it collected. However, the consumer (first user) 41 and theconsumer (second user) 42 may be the same.

The leasing company 20 collects the commodity from the consumer (seconduser) 42, for example, after the lease contract has expired.Alternatively, the leasing company 20 may cancel the lease contract atany time and collect the commodity from the consumer (second user) 42.In such a case, it is preferable to pay any lease charges back to theconsumer (second user) 42 according to the lease contract.

In addition, it is preferable that the leasing company 20 gives somekind of incentive to the consumer (second user) 42 so as to ensure thatthe commodity is easily collected from the consumer (second user) 42.

The commodity collected from the consumer (second user) 42 is determinedwhether it can be an object of a further lease contract. For example,when the estimated remaining life of the collected commodity is stillsufficiently long (i.e., a value indicating the estimated remaining lifeof the commodity is equal to or greater than a preset threshold), thecommodity may be an object of a further lease contract.

Thus, lease and collection are repeated between the leasing company 20and the consumers 41, 42, . . . any number of times.

Alternatively, when the estimated remaining life of the collectedcommodity is short (i.e., a value indicating the estimated remaininglife of the commodity is less than a preset threshold), the commoditycannot be an object of a further lease contract. In this case, thecommodity is sent to a dismantling plant 30 from the leasing company 20.In the dismantling plant 30, the commodity is dismantled into aplurality of parts.

Most of the home appliances which are currently distributed are notdesigned to accommodate automatic dismantling. Therefore, the commodityis dismantled by a labor-intensive operation in the dismantling plant30. This increases the operation cost of the dismantling plant 30.

One of the methods for decreasing the operation cost of the dismantlingplant 30 contemplated is a method in which the lease company 20 variesthe lease terms for leasing the commodity to the consumer, depending onan operating schedule of the dismantling plant 30.

For example, the dismantling plant 30 submits the operating schedule ofthe dismantling plant 30 to the leasing company 20. The operatingschedule of the dismantling plant 30 is determined in view of variousspecific requirements, such as seasonal factors of laborers.

The lease company 20 varies the lease terms so that an amount ofcommodities brought to the dismantling plant 30 conforms to a throughput capacity of the dismantling plant 30. For example, for the commoditywhich is to be collected at the time when the throughput capacity of thedismantling plant 30 is decreased, the lease charge is set to be higherthan a standard charge. On the other hand, for the commodity which is tobe collected at the time when the throughput capacity of the dismantlingplant 30 is increased, the lease charge is set to be lower than thestandard charge.

Such variable lease terms are different from the conventional termswhere the lease charge decreases as the lease period increases.

In order to link the operation schedule of the dismantling plant 30 andthe lease terms of the leasing company 20 in a manner as describedabove, it is preferable that a proprietor of the dismantling plant 30and that of the leasing company 20 is the same. Alternatively, it is atleast preferable that the dismantling plant 30 and the leasing company20 are in cooperation.

Additionally, the dismantling plant 30 may submit the operating scheduleof the dismantling plant 30 to the commodity manufacturer 10.

As the automatic dismantle design technology spreads in the commoditymanufacturer 10, the automation of the dismantling plant 30 is promotedbecause the automatic dismantlement of the commodity is facilitated. Asa result, a dismantling operation of the commodity shifts from alabor-intensive operation to a knowledge intensive operation. Thus, theoperation cost of the dismantling plant 30 can be decreased.

Furthermore, as the automatic dismantle design technology spreads in thecommodity manufacturer 10, the rebuilding of a material in thedismantling plant 30 is promoted. For example, in the dismantling plant30, a material may be rebuilt from at least one part obtained bydismantling the commodity, or at least a portion of a new commodity maybe manufactured from the rebuilt material. Thus, the operation cost ofthe dismantling plant 30 can be further decreased.

The leasing company 20 shown in FIG. 1 may be replaced with a salescompany. In this case, the sales company sells the commodity to theconsumer (second user) 42 according to sale terms which are determinedbased on the estimated remaining life of the commodity. The salescompany collects the commodity from the consumer (second user) 42, orthe sales company may entrust the collection of the commodity to anothercompany. Alternatively, the leasing company 20 or the sales company maylease and sell the commodities.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show other channels of distribution of commodities basedon a recycling method according to the present invention.

In an example shown in FIG. 2A, a commodity manufacturer 10 and aleasing company 20 are established in a first country and a leasingcompany 22 and a dismantling plant 30 are established in a secondcountry. Typically, the first country is a developed country (e.g.,Japan). The second country is typically a developing country (e.g.,India).

The leasing company 20 in the first country leases a commodity to aconsumer (first user) 41 according to preset lease terms and collectsthe commodity from the consumer (first user) 41.

The commodity collected from the consumer (first user) 41 is exported tothe leasing company 22 in the second country for sale or lease in thesecond country. The commodity collected from the consumer (first user)41 may be leased and collected in the first country again, and thenexported to the leasing company 22 in the second country.

The leasing company 22 in the second country imports the commodity fromthe first country to the second country, leases the commodity to aconsumer (second user) 42, according to lease terms which are determinedbased on an estimated remaining life of the commodity, and collects thecommodity from the consumer (second user) 42. A sale price of thecommodity to be leased to the consumer (second user) 42 is preferablyabout 5 to 10% of that of a brand new product. Such a low price may be apowerful incentive for consumers in the second country (especially, adeveloping country) to purchase the commodity.

After the commodity is collected from the consumer (second user) 42, thecommodity is dismantled in to a plurality of parts in a dismantlingplant 30 in the second country.

By establishing the dismantling plant 30 in the second country(especially, a developing country), inexpensive labor which is requiredfor the labor-intensive operation can be more easily provided to thedismantling plant 30. Thus, an operation cost of the dismantling plant30 can be decreased.

When the dismantling plant 30 is established in the second country(especially, a developing country), it is preferable that techniques fordismantling the commodity are transferred from the first country to thesecond country, and a guidance on the techniques for dismantling thecommodity is provided in the second country. Thus, the technical skillof the laborers in the second country is improved. As a result, theoperation cost of the dismantling plant can be further decreased.Moreover, as the industry of dismantling commodities develops in thesecond country, employment can be created.

The leasing company 20 and the leasing company 22 may be one company, ormay be separate companies.

As described above, by distributing used commodities to the secondcountry (especially, a developing country), and dismantling the usedcommodities in the second country with a technical cooperation of thefirst country (especially, a developed country), desire of consumers inthe second country to purchase the products is satisfied, and techniquesof the laborers in the second country improves. Thus, a “globalrecycling system” across the border is built, which may contribute tothe “protection of the environment of the planet”.

In an example shown in FIG. 2B, a commodity manufacturer 10 and aleasing company 20 are established in the first country, and adismantling plant 30 is established in the second country. The exampleshown in FIG. 2B is identical with the example shown in FIG. 2A exceptthat a dealer 50 which handles export of a commodity from the firstcountry to the second country directly lease the commodity to a consumer(second user) 42.

The examples shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B represent a relationship betweentwo countries, the first country and the second country. However, thisrelationship can be established among three or more countries. Forexample, the commodity collected in the first country may be leased inthe second country, and the commodity collected in the second countrymay be leased in the third country, etc.

Each of the leasing companies 20, 22 and the dealer 50 shown in FIGS. 2Aand 2B may be replaced with a sales company. In this case, the salescompany sells the commodity to the consumer according to sale termswhich are determined based on the estimated remaining life of thecommodity. The sales company collects the commodity from the consumer,or the sales company may entrust the collection of the commodity toanother company. Alternatively, at least one of the leasing companies20, 22 and the dealer 50 may lease and sell the commodities, or thesales company may lease and sell the commodities.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a procedure of the recycling methodaccording to the present invention.

Step S1: Sell or rent a commodity to a first user.

Step S2: Collect the commodity from the first user.

Step S3: Estimate the remaining life of the commodity collected from thefirst user.

Step S4: Determine sale terms or lease terms based on the remainingestimated remaining life of the commodity.

Step S5: Sell or rent the commodity to a second user according to saleterms or lease terms determined at step S4.

Step S6: Collect the commodity from the second user.

Step S7: Dismantle the commodity into a plurality of parts after thecollection of the commodity from the second user.

In the examples shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, steps S1 and S2 shown in FIG.3 are performed in the first country, and steps S5, S6, and S7 shown inFIG. 3 are performed in the second country, which is different from thefirst country.

In the example shown in FIG. 2A, a leasing company 20 performs steps S1and S2, and then performs a step of exporting commodities collected instep S2. Thereafter, a leasing company 22 performs a step of importingthe commodity into the second country which is different from the firstcountry, and then performs steps S5, S6, and S7.

The steps S3 and S4 shown in FIG. 3 may be omitted.

FIG. 4 shows a structure of a recycle support system 60 supporting therecycling of commodities.

The recycle support system 60 comprises a service center 61, a home 62,and a network 63 connecting the service center 61 and the home 62. Anoffice 64 may be connected to the network 63. The network 63 may be anytype of network (e.g., the Internet).

The service center 61 may be provided in, for example, the leasingcompany 20 (FIG. 1).

Consumers reside in the home 62. In the home 62, there is equipment(information appliances), such as a refrigerator 71, a personal computer(PC) 72, a DVD recording and playing device (DVD) 73, a television (TV)74, and the like. The equipment are connected to each other via a homeLAN 75 provided in the home 62.

The TV 74 comprises a network communication section 81 having a functionof communicating with the service center 61 via the network 63, a mainbody circuit 82 for implementing the functions of the TV 74, acurrent-on timer section 83 for timing a total current-on time of the TV74, a usage history information storing section 84 for recording thetotal current-on time timed by the current-on timer section 83, and aproduct specification and purchase information recording section 85 forrecording product specification information and purchase information ofthe TV 74.

The product specification information of the TV 74 is recorded in theproduct specification and purchase information recording section 85 whenthe TV 74 is shipped. The product specification information of the TV 74includes a name of the manufacturer, category of the product, name ofthe model, manufacture date, serial number, and the like.

The purchase information of the TV 74 is recorded in the productspecification and purchase information recording section 85 when theconsumer purchases the TV 74 (or when the consumer begins leasing the TV74). The purchase information of the TV 74 includes the date of purchaseof the TV 74 by the consumer (or the date on which the consumer beginsleasing the TV 74), and the like.

The current-on timer section 83 is implemented by, for example, a timerwhich starts when power is supplied to then TV 74 for operation. Anaccumulated value of the total current-on time of the TV 74 can becalculated based on the values timed by the timer. The accumulated valueof the total current-on time of the TV 74 may be stored in the usagehistory information storing section 84 as the usage history information.

Alternatively, the number of times power is supplied to the TV 74 and isshut off may be stored in the usage history information storing section84 as the usage history information.

The usage history information recorded in the usage history informationstoring section 84 and the product specification information andpurchase information recorded in the product specification and purchaseinformation recording section 85 are sent to the service center 61 viathe network 63 to be stored in a memory 93 in the service center 61.

A CPU 92 estimates the remaining life of the TV 74 based on the usagehistory information (e.g., the accumulated value of the total current-ontime of the TV 74) stored in the memory 93. The greater the accumulatedvalue of the total current-on time of the TV 74, the shorter theestimated remaining life of the TV 74, and the smaller the accumulatedvalue of the total current-on time of the TV 74, the longer theestimated remaining life of the TV 74. In addition to the accumulatedvalue of the total current-on time of the TV 74, information regardingthe existence of any problems with the TV 74 or the extent such problemsmay also be considered when the remaining life of the TV 74 isestimated.

Alternatively, the CPU 92 may estimate the remaining life of the TV 74based on the product specification information (e.g., manufacture date)stored in the memory 93. For example, the greater the difference betweenthe current date and the manufacture date (i.e., current date minusmanufacture date), the shorter the estimated remaining life of the TV74, and the smaller the difference between the current date and themanufacture date (i.e., current date minus manufacture date), the longerthe estimated remaining life of the TV 74. The current date may beobtained by using, for example, a clock mechanism (not shown)incorporated in the CPU 92.

Thus, the remaining life of the commodity pan be estimated. Of course,the method for estimating the life of the commodity is not limited tothe method described above. Any method for estimating the life of thecommodity may be applied at step S3 shown in FIG. 3.

The communication between the service center 61 and the home 62 isperformed, for example, by transmitting packets of information. A packetincludes a header portion indicating an address to which the packet istransmitted and a data portion including information to be transmitted.The header portion includes an equipment identification number assignedto each piece of equipment in the home 62, and a home identificationnumber assigned to each home. By forming the header portion having sucha structure, packets can be sent from the service center 61 toparticular equipment in the home 62, or, conversely, packets can be sentfrom particular equipment in the home 62 to the service center 61. Inorder to achieve this, each piece of equipment in the home 62 maycommunicate with the service center 61, or each piece of equipment inthe home 62 may communicate with the service center 61 via a particularpiece of equipment (e.g., the PC 72).

The CPU 92 determines the sale terms and lease terms based on theestimated remaining life of the commodity. For example, the shorter theestimated remaining life of the commodity, the lower the sales or rentalprice, and the longer the estimated remaining life of the commodity, thehigher the sales or rental price. Alternatively, the shorter theestimated remaining life of the commodity, the shorter the lease period,and the longer the estimated remaining life of the commodity, the longerthe lease period.

Thus, the sale terms and the lease terms are determined based on theestimated remaining life of the commodity. Of course, the method fordetermining the sale terms and the lease terms is not limited to themethod described above. Any method for determining the sale terms andthe lease terms based on the estimated remaining life of the commoditymay be applied at step S4 shown in FIG. 3.

By constructing an environment in which the service center 61 and thehome 62 are connected to each other via the network 63, as shown in FIG.4, the sale terms and the lease terms can be determined based on theestimated remaining life of the TV 74 before the TV 74 is actuallycollected. Thus, when the consumer requests the service center 61 to buythe TV 74 from the consumer, it is possible to estimate the price of TV74 without actually moving the TV 74.

The sale terms and the lease terms may also be determined after the TV74 is collected, based on the estimated remaining life of the TV 74, bydirectly connecting the network communication section 81 of the TV 74and the network communication section 91 of the service center 61without the network 63.

Alternatively, the usage history information may be read from the usagehistory information storing section 84, or the product specificationinformation and the purchase information may be read from the productspecification and the purchase information recording section 85 withoutpassing through the network communication section 81.

FIG. 5 shows a device 1012 having both the function of the usage historyinformation storing section 84 and the function of the current-on timersection 83 shown in FIG. 4. The recording device 1012 is a disposal typedevice which is replaceable. The recording device 1012 is incorporatedin the TV 74.

The recording device 1012 comprises a constant-current circuit 414, MOStransistors 410 to 413, a terminal 415 which is connected to the mainbody circuit 82 (FIG. 4), a terminal 416 which is connected to thenetwork communication section 81, and a resistor 417.

The recording device 1012 receives a control signal from the main bodycircuit 82 via the terminal 415. The control signal is input to theconstant-current circuit 414 and respective gates of the MOS transistors410 to 413. When power is supplied to the TV 74 (i.e., current startsflowing into the TV 74), the control signal goes to a high level. Thus,the constant-current circuit 414 and the MOS transistors 410 to 413 areturned on, and currents flow through the sources and drains of the MOStransistors 410 to 413.

When the power to the TV 74 is shut off (i.e., current stops flowing tothe TV 74), the control signal goes to a low level. Thus, theconstant-current circuit 414 and the MOS transistors 410 to 413 areturned off, and currents do not flow through the sources and drains ofthe MOS transistors 410 to 413. Therefore, current flows through each ofthe MOS transistors 410 to 413 only during the current-on time of the TV74.

Each of the MOS transistors 410 to 413 deteriorates after differentpredetermined periods of time (e.g., a breakdown of a gate oxide film ofthe MOS transistor occurs), and do not function as the MOS transistorany more. For example, the MOS transistors 410 to 413 are designed suchthat the breakdowns of the gate oxide films occur when the totalcurrent-on time of the TV 74 is respectively 10,000 hours, 5,000 hours,1,000 hours, and 500 hours. Such a design can be achieved by adjustingmaterials for the gate oxide films. When the total current-on time ofthe TV 74 is 2,000 hours, the breakdown of the gate oxide films of theMOS transistors 412 and 413 have already occurred.

The potential at the terminal 416 can be read by the networkcommunication section 81. The read potential is sent to the servicecenter 61 via the network 63 as information indicating the accumulatedvalue of the total current-on time of the TV 74. Thus, the servicecenter 61 obtains the usage history information of the TV 74 via thenetwork 63, and estimates the remaining life of the TV 74 based on theusage history information.

Since it is difficult to restore the gate oxide films of the MOStransistors after breakdown, with the recoding device 1012, it issubstantially impossible for the user (e.g., the first user) of the TV74 to alter the information indicating the accumulated value of thetotal current-on time of the TV 74.

As described above, the recording device 1012 functions as a recordingsection for recording the information indicating the accumulated valueof the total current-on time of the TV 74 (information indicating theusage history of the TV 74) in a manner in which it is impossible forthe user to alter.

However, such a recording section may not be provided as a separatecircuit from the main circuit of the TV 74. For example, a displayscreen of the TV 74 deteriorates irreversibly in accordance with theusage history of the TV 74. Thus, the display screen of the TV 74 may beused as a recording section for recording the information indicating theusage history of the TV 74 in a manner in which it is impossible for theuser to alter. In this case, for example, after the collection of the TV74, a particular test pattern may be projected on the display screen ofthe TV 74, and based on the resolution thereof, the remaining life ofthe TV 74 may be estimated according to a sensory criteria. Theremaining life of the TV 74 may also be estimated by image processing ofthe projected test pattern and using an expert system constructed byprogramming such a sensory criteria.

If the first user has not ever used the TV 74 for some reason after itis sold or rented to the first user until the TV 74 is collected, the TV74 is sold or rented to the second user in an almost brand-newcondition. In this case, it is preferable that the sale terms or leaseterms of the TV 74 to the second user are determined based on the factthat the TV 74 is unused. For example, it is preferable to set a highsale price or the rental price of the TV 74 to the second user. For thispurpose, a device for irreversibly recording the information regardingwhether the TV 74 is unused or not may be provided in the TV 74.

FIG. 6A shows a fuse 1000, as an example of the device for irreversiblyrecording the information regarding whether the TV 74 is unused or not.The fuse 1000 is provided on a wire which connects the main body circuit84 of the TV 74 and a power source. The fuse 1000 breaks when voltagesabove the predetermined voltage are applied to both ends thereof. Thepredetermined voltage is adjusted to be lower than the voltage requiredfor operating the main body circuit 84 of the TV 74.

FIG. 6B shows a condition of the fuse 1000 after the TV 74 is used. Whenthe TV 74 is used (i.e., the TV 74 is connected to the power source),the fuse 1000 breaks. Since the broken fuse cannot be restored, the fuse1000 functions as the device for irreversibly recording informationregarding whether the TV 74 is unused or not. After the collection ofthe TV 74, the condition of the fuse 1000 is examined, and when the fuse1000 is not broken, it is recognized that the TV 74 is unused.

In order to remove surges or pulses occurring when the fuse 100 breaks,a protective device 110 may be provided in the TV 74.

FIG. 6C shows an example in which the protective device 1100 is providedin the TV 74. For the protective device 1100, any type of circuit whichis capable of removing surges or pulses occurring when the fuse 1000breaks may be used. By providing such a protective device 1100, the mainbody circuit 82 can be protected against a bad influence of the surgesand pulses.

In the examples shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6A to 6C, explanation has beenmade with reference to the TV 74 for an example of the commodity.Similar explanation can be applied to information appliances and othercommodities, such as, the refrigerator 71, the PC 72, the DVD 73, andthe like.

In order to efficiently recycle a commodity, a life cycle of thecommodity, from the manufacture to the disposal, must be managed. Amethod for managing a life cycle of the commodity is explained below.

It is preferable that the commodity comprises a device for sendingparticular information which is particular to the commodity (e.g., theproduct specification information described above). The particularinformation may be sent at a periodic interval or may be sentirregularly.

For example, in the case where the product specification and purchaseinformation recording section 85 and the network communication section81 are incorporated in the TV 74 as shown in FIG. 4, the productspecification information recorded in the product specification andpurchase information recording section 85 may be sent as the particularinformation.

The product specification information sent from the TV 74 is stored inthe memory 93 in the service center 61 via the network 63. Thus, thecommodity can be managed by collecting the particular informationparticular to the commodity and storing the particular information inthe service center 61.

The commodity is not always connected to a network, such as the wiredconnection to the network 63. Therefore, it is preferable that thedevice for sending the particular information of the commodity is formedto send the particular information of the commodity in a wirelessmanner. Furthermore, the particular information which is sent in awireless manner may be received by a communications satellite.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a management system 70 for managing lifecycles of commodities on a global scale by using communicationssatellites. In FIG. 7, the like reference numerals indicate likeelements as shown in FIG. 4, and the description thereof is omitted. Inthe example shown in FIG. 7, a refrigerator 71 is sold or rented to afirst user in a first country (Japan), then collected and sent to asecond country (India). The refrigerator 71 is sold or rented to asecond user in the second country.

In the example shown in FIG. 7, the network 63 includes a first countrystation 710, a second country station 711, and a communicationssatellite 712. The refrigerator 71 comprises a device for sendingparticular information of a commodity, which is formed to send theparticular information of the commodity in a wireless manner.

When the refrigerator 71 is used in the first country, the particularinformation of the refrigerator 71 is sent to the service center 61 viathe station 710. Herein, the service center 61 is assumed to be in thefirst country. When the refrigerator 71 is used in the second country,the particular information of the refrigerator 71 is sent to the servicecenter 61 via the station 711 and the communications satellite 712. Whenthe refrigerator 71 is loaded in a ship 750 transporting therefrigerator 71 from the first country (Japan) to the second country(India), the particular information of the refrigerator 71 is sent tothe service center 61 via the communications satellite 712.

In the example shown in FIG. 7, the explanation is made with referenceto the refrigerator 71 as an example of the commodity. Similarexplanation can be applied to information appliances and othercommodities, such as the PC 72, the DVD 73, the TV 74, and the likeshown in FIG. 4.

By constructing the network 63 as shown in FIG. 7, the particularinformation of the commodity can be collected and stored in the servicecenter 61 irrespective of the location of the commodity.

An amount of information required for the communication of theparticular information of the commodity is small. Therefore, theparticular information of the commodity can be collected and stored inthe service center 61 with a significantly low cost.

Further, in the case where the particular information of the commodityincludes distribution information for specifying a party involved in thedistribution of the commodity (e.g., the purchaser of the commodity,user of the leased commodity, supervisor in the transportation of thecommodity, supervisor in exporting the commodity, supervisor inimporting the commodity, and the like), when the particular informationfrom the commodity ceases, the party involved in the distribution of thecommodity, specified by the distribution information included in themost recent piece of particular information sent from the commodity, maybe notified that the particular information from the commodity ceases.Along with the notification, a responsibility for collecting thecommodity may be placed on the party involved in the distribution of thecommodity.

Thus, responsibilities for managing the commodity can be defined at anypoint in the life cycle of the commodity. As a result, it is possible toprevent the commodity from being illegally disposed of, for example, inthe sea or in a field.

The particular information may include the information regarding thecountry in which the commodity is manufactured, and/or the informationregarding the manufacturer of the commodity. When an illegal disposal ofthe commodity occurs, at least a part of the responsibility may beplaced on the country in which the commodity is manufactured and/or themanufacturer of the commodity.

The particular information may include information for specifying acountry which is suitable for dismantling the commodity. The country isspecified based on, for example, achievements in transfer of thetechniques for dismantling the commodity from the country in which thecommodity is manufactured. Thus, the global management of the lifecycles of the commodities can be efficiently performed.

In the examples shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, manufacture of the commodityand the sale and renting of the commodity to the first user areperformed in the first country, and the sale and renting to the seconduser are performed in the second country. However, the manufacture ofthe commodity, and the sale and renting to the first user of thecommodity may be performed in different countries. Furthermore, the saleand renting to the second user, and the dismantling of the commodity maybe performed in different countries. Hereinafter, the country in whichthe commodity is manufactured is referred to as the country ofmanufacture, the country in which the sale and renting to the first useris performed is referred to as the country of first use, the country inwhich the sale and renting to the second user is performed is referredto as the country of second use, and the country in which dismantling isperformed is referred to as the country of dismantling.

FIG. 8A shows an example of communication channels of commodities in thelife cycles of the commodities. In the example shown in FIG. 8A, acommodity produced in the country of manufacture is sent to the firstcountry, and is sold or rented to the first user in the first country.The commodity is collected from the first user, then sent to the secondcountry, and is sold or rented to the second user in the second country.The commodity is collected from the second user, sent to the country ofdismantling, and is dismantled. The techniques for dismantling thecommodity is transferred from the country of production to the countryof dismantling.

In FIGS. 8A to 8D, the solid line arrows represent a channel ofdistribution, and the broken line arrow represents a channel oftransferring the techniques for dismantling the commodity.

Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 8B to 8D, specific examples of thechannels of distribution of the commodities are shown for each of thetypes of commodity.

FIG. 8B shows an example of the channel of distribution of the commodityin the case where the commodity is a car.

A car manufactured in Japan is used by the first user in Japan. The caris collected from the first user, and exported to China, Russia, or thecountries of Southeast Asia as a used car. The car is used by the seconduser in one of these countries, and then sent to the country ofdismantling, which can provide a labor-intensive operation (e.g., India,the countries of Africa, and the like).

A car manufactured in the United States is used by the first user in theUnited States. A number of the cars collected from the first user areused in the United States as used cars. Some of the cars collected fromthe first user are exported to, for example, the countries of SouthAmerica to be sold or rented. The car is used by the second user in thecountries of South America, and then dismantling is performed in thecountries of South America, or the countries of Africa, which canprovide the labor-intensive operation.

In order to appropriately manage the life cycles of the cars over thechannel of distribution shown in FIG. 8B, the management system 70 whichis described with reference to FIG. 7 may be used.

Further, it is preferable that techniques for dismantling the cars aretransferred from Japan to the countries of dismantling, such as India,the countries of Africa, and the like. Similarly, it is preferable thattechniques for dismantling the cars are transferred from the UnitedStates to the countries of dismantling, such as the countries of SouthAmerica, the countries of Africa, and the like.

FIG. 8C shows an example of the channel of distribution of the commodityin the case where the commodity is an airplane.

An, airplane manufactured in the United States is used by the first userin the United States, Japan, the countries of Europe, or the like. TheAirplane is collected from the first user, and then used by the seconduser in the countries of South America, or the countries of Africa.Finally, the airplane which has reached its dismantling age isdismantled in the country which can provide the labor-intensiveoperation, such as India, the countries of Africa, and the like. Beforedismantling the airplane in the country of dismantling (e.g., India),the airplane may be sold or rented to a user again in the country ofdismantling.

In order to appropriately manage the life cycles of the airplanes overthe channel of distribution shown in FIG. 8C, the management system 70which is described with reference to FIG. 7 may be used.

Further, it is preferable that techniques for dismantling the airplanesare transferred from the United States to the countries of dismantling,such as India, the countries of Africa, and the like.

FIG. 8D shows an example of the channel of distribution of the commoditywhen the commodity is a ship.

Japan and Korea are examples of the countries of the manufacture of theship. A ship manufactured in one of these countries of manufacture isused by a first user in Greece or Liberia (i.e., with Greek registrationor Liberian registration). Then, the ship is used by the second user asa used ship in China, the countries of Southeast Asia, the countries ofMiddle East, and the like. Finally, the ship is sent to India, thecountries of Africa, or China, which can provide the labor-intensiveoperation for dismantling the ship.

In order to appropriately manage the life cycles of the ship over thechannel of distribution shown in FIG. 8D, the management system 70 whichis described with reference to FIG. 7 may be used.

Further, it is preferable that techniques for dismantling the ship aretransferred from Japan or Korea to the countries of dismantling, such asIndia, the countries of Africa, China, and the like.

The airplanes and ships are formed of a large number of parts. It ispreferable that a device for sending particular information is providedin every major part of the airplanes and the ships. Thus, the life cycleof each of the major parts can be managed.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, acommodity collected from a first user is sold or rented to a second userin accordance with terms which are determined based on an estimatedremaining life of the commodity. Thus, it is possible to make use of thecommodity for the total length of the life of the commodity. As aresult, an amount of commodities to be dismantled is decreased, and anoperation cost of the dismantling plant can be decreased. Moreover, twoparties can have an appropriate negotiation for the sale and renting ofthe commodity in view of the life of an individual commodity.

According to the present invention, sale and rental of the commodity tothe first user and the collection of the commodity from the first userare performed in a first country (e.g., a developed country), and saleand rental of the commodity to the second user and the collection of thecommodity from the second user are performed in a second country, whichis different from the first country (e.g., a developing country).Dismantling of the commodity into a plurality of parts is performed inthe second country. Thus, a global recycling system for efficientlyrecycling commodities on a global scale can be implemented

1. A television comprising: a current-ON timer, the current-ON timerhaving a transistor with a predetermined lifetime, wherein when a poweris supplied to the television, the transistor is in an ON state, thecurrent-ON timer is configured to record information indicating whetherthe total current-ON time of the television has exceeded thepredetermined lifetime of the transistor, for estimating a remaininglife of the television.
 2. The television according to claim 1, whereinthe television comprises a communication means and transmits therecorded information indicating whether the total current-ON time of thetelevision has exceeded the predetermined lifetime of the transistoroutside of the television.
 3. The television according to claim 1,characterized in that: the transistor comprises a gate, a source and adrain; the source or the drain of the transistor is connected to aconstant-current circuit; and when the power is supplied to thetelevision, a control signal is input to the gate to have the transistorin the ON state.
 4. The television according to claim 1, characterizedin that the current-ON timer comprising a plurality of transistors withdifferent predetermined lifetimes, wherein the plurality of transistorsare arranged in parallel.
 5. The television according to claim 3,characterized in that the current-ON timer comprising a plurality oftransistors with different predetermined lifetimes, wherein theplurality of transistors are arranged in parallel.
 6. A lifetimeestimating method of a television, wherein the television comprises acurrent-ON timer, the current-ON timer having a transistor with apredetermined lifetime, the current-ON timer being configured to recordinformation indicating whether the total current-ON time of thetelevision has exceeded the predetermined lifetime of the transistor,the method comprising: turning on the transistor such that thetransistor is in the ON state when a power is supplied to thetelevision: and, estimating a remaining life of the television using theinformation indicating whether the total current-ON time of thetelevision has exceeded the predetermined lifetime of the transistor. 7.The lifetime estimating method of the television according to, claim 6,wherein the television comprises a communication means, furthercomprising: transmitting, by the television, the recorded informationindicating whether the total current-ON time of the television hasexceeded the predetermined lifetime of the transistor outside of thetelevision to estimate the remaining life of the television outside.